Whereas, changes in land ownership have been occurring at an unprecedented rate; and

Whereas, it is in the interest of the State to monitor these changes; and

Whereas, changes regarding classification of land for taxation purposes are submitted on or before April 1st; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §6207, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5.__Estimation of monitoring and management costs.__Prior to final approval of a project under this chapter, a person submitting a proposal to acquire property or an interest in property with funding from the Land for Maine's Future Fund or the Public Access to Maine Waters Fund shall provide:

A.__A description of the management envisioned for the property. When the application proposes acquiring an interest in property, the application must provide a description of the anticipated management responsibilities retained by the landowner and those to be assumed by the State or a cooperating entity;

B.__Preliminary estimates of the costs to the State or a cooperating entity of managing the land for the uses proposed in the application; and

C.__Preliminary estimates of the costs associated with monitoring compliance with an easement when an interest in land is acquired.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §8879, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

1-A.__Report on changes in ownership of forest land.__Using information received under Title 36, section 581-E, the director shall monitor changes in ownership of parcels of forest land that are 1,000 acres or greater in area within the municipalities of